Advocates for inmates say the meal is punishment, and it can’t be imposed until a formal disciplinary process is followed.

But prison officials told AP that nutraloaf delivers nutrition and a message to misbehaving inmates.

“It’s commonplace in other states as a way of providing nutrition in a mechanism that dissuades inmates from throwing feces, urine, trays and silverware,” said Vermont Corrections Commissioner Rob Hofmann. “It tends to have the desired outcome.”